Colorful Side of Life

Photo: EMBUDU VILLAGE

Photo: BANDOS

Colourful visitmaldives.com

Side of Life

For snorkelling and diving enthusiasts, Maldives is undoubtedly an underwater paradise!

Snorkelling is perhaps the easiest way to explore the Maldives’ vibrant underwater world. Most islands feature a ‘house reef’ close to their shore, where the shallow lagoon precipitously drops off into the deeper ocean waters. Islands with larger lagoons are also within short boating distance of striking reefs, populated by myriads of small and big sea creatures.

Known internationally as one of the world’s best scuba diving destinations, the Maldives has an abundance of dive sites with one thrilling dive opportunity after another. The islands of Maldives have consistently warm waters with outstanding visibility throughout the year. There are a number of exhilarating dive sites such as vibrant thila(s), exciting channels, coral-filled overhangs, and fascinating wrecks.

Photo: SHAFRAZ NAEEM

Photo: SUN SIYAM RESORTS

Photo: MIRIHI

Photo: SHAFRAZ NAEEM

s

Don’t

ers) ed div ifi t r e c r ok (fo logbo ntation one d n a d orie cation Do: certifi ive a guide e iv d g td t • brin ke your firs and curren a e s t m id a f air et • bo urce o eck th t for motor m o h s c e

t 0 • a tch ou h to 3 altern • wa it dive dept er and an er on dives t n • lim r a compu long a part t a a se e n w g u

s in • s br a before y a lw • a ve the se • lea

nd Dos a

North and South Male Atoll

: Don’t oral t fe n rine li p on c • ste the sedime ing any ma • stir se or touch a • ch d fish e • f e r life e • litt r gloves live marine a r e • w ect dead o s f ll • co hor on ree r spears tle shell o c n s tur a n o • arpo s made of h e s • u souvenir y • bu

ME OF O S T A OOK L A E HE K T N TA I S E E SIT V I D T S ES THE BE MALDIV

Okobe (Barracuda) Thila: three reefs with an abundance of marine life Manta Point: manta ray cleaning station Furana Thila: caves frequented by sharks Banana Reef: colourful fish population Colosseum: a reef gently sloping down to 25m; blue stripe snapper, red and midnight snapper, eagle ray, whitetip reef shark, leopard shark, batfish and sometimes manta ray and whale shark Prisca Head: moray eel, red snapper, blue fin, and big eye Trevally and whitetip reef shark Kuda Wreck: grey reef shark, whitetip reef shark, schools of sergeant fish, black jack fish and moray eel Asdhoo Rock: small pinnacles on northeast side; is home to Napoleon wrasse, schools of hump head snapper and blue stripe snapper, turtles, red snapper and big schools of fusilier. To the east are live corals.

Ari Atoll With feeding manta rays, graceful whale sharks and schooling hammerheads, Ari Atoll is home to some of the Maldives’ best dive sites such as Maaya Thila and Fish Head.

Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve Designated by UNESCO in 2011, the Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve supports one of the largest groups of coral reefs in the Indian Ocean. The reserve is home to a globally significant biodiversity, including some 250 species of corals and 1,200 reef and reef-associated fish species as well as a population of marine turtles, manta rays, whale sharks and seabirds.

These also include threatened and endangered species such as the green turtle, hawksbill turtle, Napoleon wrasses, and tawny nurse shark.

Photo: AMILLA FUSHI

Photo: EQUATOR VILLAGE